Athletes are often praised for discipline, dedication, and commitment. But sometimes the very qualities that contribute to athletic success, can also increase vulnerability to eating disorders and disordered eating. Some of these traits include perfectionism, persistence, and a drive to improve.
Many athletes struggle silently with restrictive eating, binge eating, compulsive exercise, purging behaviors, or an unhealthy relationship with food while continuing to compete at a high level. At Evolve Wellness Group, we understand the unique pressures athletes face. Whether you’re a competitive athlete, recreational exerciser, dancer, or performer, recovery is possible—and it doesn’t mean giving up everything you love.
Eating Disorders Can Affect Athletes at Every Level
Eating disorders are common among athletes and can occur in:
- High school athletes
- College athletes
- Professional athletes
- Recreational athletes
- Endurance athletes
- Dancers
- Gymnasts
- Figure skaters
- Runners
- Cyclists
- Swimmers
- Triathletes
- CrossFit athletes
- Yoga practitioners
- Weight-class athletes
- Aesthetic sports
- Team sports
Athletes of every gender, body size, race, and competitive level can develop an eating disorder. Contrary to common misconceptions, eating disorders are not always obvious. Many athletes continue to perform well while experiencing significant physical and emotional distress.
Why Athletes Are at Increased Risk
Athletes often receive messages that reinforce behaviors that can contribute to eating disorders, including:
- Pressure to maintain a certain body weight or appearance
- Belief that lighter is always faster or stronger
- Constant body comparisons
- Performance anxiety
- Perfectionism
- Fear of losing a starting position
- Pressure from coaches, teammates, or social media
- Nutrition misinformation
- Injury and return-to-sport concerns
What may begin as a focus on improving performance can gradually evolve into rigid eating patterns, compulsive exercise, or an eating disorder.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Behavioral Signs
- Restricting food intake
- Skipping meals
- Eliminating entire food groups
- Exercising despite illness or injury
- Training beyond prescribed workouts
- Feeling guilty after rest days
- Obsessive calorie tracking
- Compulsive body checking
- Binge eating episodes
- Purging behaviors
- Frequent weight monitoring
Emotional Signs
- Anxiety around eating
- Fear of weight gain
- Self-worth tied to athletic performance
- Perfectionism
- Difficulty taking rest days
- Feeling “behind” after missing workouts
- Persistent body dissatisfaction
- Mood changes related to eating or training
Physical Signs
- Frequent injuries
- Stress fractures
- Chronic fatigue
- Low energy
- Poor recovery
- Hormonal changes
- Menstrual irregularities or loss of menstrual cycle
- Decreased performance
- Frequent illness
- Sleep disturbances
These symptoms should never be dismissed as simply “part of training.”
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)
Many athletes experiencing eating disorders or chronic under-fueling also develop Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). RED-S occurs when the body does not receive enough energy to support both exercise and normal physiological functioning.
It can affect nearly every body system, including:
- Bone health
- Hormonal function
- Cardiovascular health
- Immune function
- Metabolism
- Mood
- Sleep
- Recovery
- Concentration
- Athletic performance
Many athletes mistakenly believe that eating less will improve performance. In reality, inadequate fueling often leads to fatigue, slower recovery, increased injury risk, and declining performance. Proper nutrition is essential, not only for recovery but also for sustainable athletic success.
How Eating Disorders Affect Performance
One of the biggest misconceptions is that eating disorders improve athletic performance.
While restrictive eating may initially produce short-term changes in body composition, the long-term consequences often include:
- Reduced endurance
- Loss of strength
- Slower reaction time
- Decreased concentration
- Increased injury risk
- Longer recovery times
- Reduced coordination
- Burnout
- Overtraining
- Decreased enjoyment of sport
Recovery often allows athletes to perform more consistently by improving energy availability, physical resilience, and mental focus.
Our Treatment Approach
At Evolve Wellness Group, we recognize that recovery for athletes involves more than restoring eating behaviors.
It also involves navigating:
- Athletic identity
- Performance anxiety
- Body image
- Injury recovery
- Return-to-sport decisions
- Relationships with coaches and teammates
- Training expectations
- Life beyond athletics
Our multidisciplinary approach may include:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Specialized sports nutrition counseling
- Medical collaboration
- Coordination with sports medicine providers
- Family involvement when appropriate
- Exposure therapy
- Body image work
- Return-to-sport planning
- Relapse prevention
Treatment is individualized based on each athlete’s goals, sport, and medical needs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–Enhanced (CBT-E)
CBT-E helps athletes recognize and change the thoughts and behaviors that maintain eating disorders.
Treatment may focus on:
- Fear of weight gain
- Food rules
- Perfectionism
- Performance-related anxiety
- Body image concerns
- Restrictive eating
- Compulsive exercise
Athletes learn to develop healthier, more flexible approaches to nutrition, training, and self-evaluation.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Competitive athletics can involve intense emotional pressure.
DBT helps athletes strengthen skills in:
- Emotion regulation
- Distress tolerance
- Mindfulness
- Self-compassion
- Managing competitive stress
- Building resilience after setbacks
These skills reduce reliance on eating disorder behaviors as a way to cope with difficult emotions.
Exposure Therapy
Avoidance often plays a significant role in maintaining eating disorders in athletes.
Exposure therapy may include gradually practicing:
- Eating adequate pre- and post-workout meals
- Increasing energy intake
- Taking scheduled rest days
- Reducing body-checking behaviors
- Wearing training clothing without excessive comparison
- Eating with teammates
- Participating in social events involving food
- Returning to training after medical clearance without relying on eating disorder behaviors
Each exposure is collaborative and individualized to the athlete’s recovery goals.
Nutrition Counseling
Working with a registered dietitian who specializes in both eating disorders and sports nutrition can be a critical part of recovery.
Our dietitians help athletes:
- Meet energy needs for training and recovery
- Improve performance through adequate fueling
- Restore hormonal health
- Reduce fear around carbohydrates and other foods
- Develop flexible meal planning
- Navigate competition schedules
- Understand RED-S and energy availability
- Build confidence in eating for both health and performance
Our approach emphasizes nourishment rather than restriction.
Family Involvement (When Appropriate)
For younger athletes, family support is often an essential part of recovery.
Parents and caregivers may receive guidance on:
- Supporting adequate nutrition
- Reducing pressure around performance
- Creating balanced routines
- Communicating effectively about recovery
- Navigating relationships with coaches and teams
Our goal is to create a supportive environment that prioritizes both health and athletic development.
Why Early Treatment Matters
Eating disorders rarely improve through greater discipline or more training.
Without treatment, athletes may experience worsening physical health, declining performance, emotional distress, and long-term medical complications.
Seeking specialized care early can help:
- Improve athletic performance through adequate fueling
- Reduce injury risk
- Restore hormonal and bone health
- Improve mood and concentration
- Strengthen body image
- Reduce anxiety around food and exercise
- Support a safe return to sport when appropriate
- Protect long-term physical and mental health
Recovery allows athletes to build a stronger foundation for both sport and life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover without giving up my sport?
Often, yes. The answer depends on your medical status, the severity of your eating disorder, and recommendations from your treatment team. While some athletes may need to temporarily modify or pause training, many are able to return to sport safely with appropriate treatment and medical oversight.
What if I’m worried that eating more will hurt my performance?
This is one of the most common fears we hear. In reality, adequate nutrition supports strength, endurance, recovery, concentration, and injury prevention. Many athletes notice improvements in both health and performance as they restore proper fueling.
Do you work with high school and college athletes?
Yes. We work with adolescents, college students, and adults participating in recreational, competitive, collegiate, and elite athletics. Treatment is tailored to each individual’s sport, developmental stage, and recovery goals.
Can I have an eating disorder if my coach says I’m healthy?
Yes. Performance and appearance do not always reflect an athlete’s physical or psychological health. Many athletes continue to compete successfully while struggling with significant eating disorder symptoms. An evaluation by professionals experienced in eating disorders can provide a more complete understanding of your health and needs.
Recovery Can Make You a Stronger Athlete—and a Healthier Person
Your value is not determined by your weight, your pace, your ranking, or your performance. True athletic success is built on a foundation of adequate nourishment, recovery, resilience, and mental well-being.
At Evolve Wellness Group, we help athletes develop a healthier relationship with food, exercise, and their bodies so they can pursue their goals with greater strength, flexibility, and confidence—both in sport and in life.
We welcome you to reach out to us today.
